Pride in every detail.
Test and Tag Melbourne
Test and tag is the process of inspecting and electrically testing portable appliances and equipment to ensure they are safe for use. Under Australian workplace health and safety regulations, employers and business owners have a duty of care to maintain electrical equipment in a safe condition. Regular testing to AS/NZS 3760 is the accepted method for demonstrating compliance.
Carlin Co Electrical provides professional test and tag services for workplaces, construction sites, rental properties, and strata buildings across Melbourne. We use calibrated portable appliance testers (PATs) to check earth continuity, insulation resistance, and leakage current on every item. Each tested appliance receives a durable tag showing the test date, next test due date, and our licence details.
Whether you need a one-off testing session for your office or an ongoing testing schedule for a construction site, our licensed electricians will work efficiently through your equipment register and provide a detailed compliance report when finished.
What We Test
Test and tag applies to any portable electrical equipment that has a plug and cable. This includes items you might not immediately think of as electrical hazards but which can deteriorate over time through normal wear, damage, or environmental exposure.
Office Equipment
Computers, monitors, printers, phone chargers, desk lamps, kettles, toasters, microwaves, heaters, fans, and power boards. In a typical office, the number of testable items per desk is often higher than people expect. We work through equipment efficiently, testing and tagging each item without disrupting your team’s workday.
Construction Site Equipment
Power tools, extension leads, RCD-protected power boards, portable lighting, and welding equipment. Construction sites are classified as hostile environments under AS/NZS 3760, which means testing intervals are more frequent (every three months for most equipment). We can attend your site on a scheduled basis to keep all portable equipment compliant.
Hospitality and Retail Equipment
Coffee machines, EFTPOS terminals, display lighting, commercial blenders, fridges, and kitchen appliances. Hospitality venues have equipment that gets heavy daily use and is exposed to moisture and heat, increasing the risk of insulation breakdown. Regular testing helps prevent failures that could injure staff or customers.
Rental Property Appliances
Any portable electrical equipment supplied by the landlord with a rental property should be tested and tagged. This includes heaters, fans, washing machines, dryers, and any other plug-in appliances provided as part of the tenancy. Landlords and property managers have a duty of care to ensure supplied equipment is safe for tenants.
Need Test and Tag for Your Workplace?
We provide competitive per-item pricing and can usually complete testing within a single visit. Call us on 0432 632 346 or book a test and tag session online.
AS/NZS 3760 Testing Intervals
AS/NZS 3760 sets out the recommended testing frequencies based on the type of environment where the equipment is used. The more hostile or demanding the environment, the more frequently equipment needs testing.
Construction Sites
Every 3 months. Construction and demolition sites are classified as hostile environments due to exposure to dust, moisture, vibration, and physical damage. Extension leads and RCDs require testing before first use on site.
Workshops and Factories
Every 6 months. Industrial environments where equipment is subject to mechanical stress, heat, chemicals, or moisture require more frequent testing than standard commercial premises.
Offices and Retail
Every 12 months. Standard commercial environments where equipment is used in relatively benign conditions. This covers most offices, shops, medical practices, and similar workplaces.
These intervals are recommendations from the standard, not strict legal requirements. However, following AS/NZS 3760 testing schedules is the most widely accepted way to demonstrate that you have met your duty of care obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic). If an incident occurs and your equipment has not been tested within recommended intervals, you may have difficulty demonstrating compliance.
138+
Google Reviews
5.0
Star Rating
REC 33210
Licensed & Registered
Melbourne
Wide Service
Carlin Co Electrical logo
Our Testing Process
Every test and tag session follows a structured process to ensure thorough, consistent results across all equipment.
Visual Inspection
Before any electrical testing, we visually inspect each item for damaged cables, cracked casings, exposed wiring, loose plugs, missing earth pins, and signs of overheating or moisture ingress. A visual inspection alone catches a significant proportion of unsafe equipment, as many faults are visible before they become dangerous.
Electrical Testing
Using a calibrated portable appliance tester, we perform earth continuity, insulation resistance, and (where applicable) leakage current tests. For Class I equipment (items with an earth connection), the earth continuity test confirms the earth path is intact and has sufficiently low resistance. The insulation resistance test checks that the insulation between live conductors and accessible metal parts has not deteriorated.
Tagging and Documentation
Each item that passes testing receives a durable tag showing our company name, licence number (REC 33210), the test date, and the next test due date. Items that fail are tagged as unsafe and removed from service until repaired or replaced. We provide a detailed register of all tested items, including test results, pass/fail status, and any items flagged for repair. This register serves as your compliance record.
Test and Tag FAQs
Is test and tag a legal requirement in Victoria?
The Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic) requires employers to provide a safe working environment, which includes maintaining electrical equipment in a safe condition. While the Act does not specifically mandate test and tag, following the testing schedules in AS/NZS 3760 is the accepted way to demonstrate compliance. For construction sites, the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 are more prescriptive about RCD and equipment testing requirements.
How much does test and tag cost?
We price test and tag on a per-item basis, with rates that decrease as the number of items increases. For a typical office with 50 to 100 items, you can expect pricing in the range of $3 to $6 per item including the tag. We will provide a fixed quote based on your estimated item count before we attend. Contact us for a quote specific to your workplace.
What happens if an item fails?
If an item fails the visual inspection or electrical testing, it is tagged with a red “fail” tag and must be removed from service immediately. Depending on the nature of the fault, it may be repairable (for example, a damaged plug can be replaced) or it may need to be discarded. We will advise you on whether repair is worthwhile and can often fix simple issues on the spot.
Do personal items brought into the workplace need testing?
Strictly speaking, the employer’s duty of care extends to all electrical equipment used in the workplace, including personal items like phone chargers, desk fans, and heaters brought in by employees. Many workplaces include personal items in their test and tag program to manage this risk. Others implement a policy requiring employees to take responsibility for their own equipment. We can test personal items alongside workplace equipment if required.
Can you set up a regular testing schedule?
Yes. We can set up a recurring test and tag schedule that matches your required testing intervals. We will contact you when your next testing session is due, attend at a time that suits your business, and maintain your equipment register across visits. This is the easiest way to stay on top of compliance without having to remember testing dates yourself.
Do you service all areas of Melbourne?
We provide test and tag services across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, bayside areas, and surrounding regions. Our base is in Port Melbourne, and we regularly attend workplaces in South Melbourne, the CBD, Richmond, St Kilda, and throughout the broader metropolitan area.
Related Services
Test and tag is often part of a broader electrical compliance program. Our team can handle all of these services during the same visit:
- Electrical Safety Inspections – Full property inspections covering fixed wiring, switchboards, and portable equipment.
- Electrical Compliance Testing – Comprehensive compliance testing for commercial and industrial premises.
- RCD Installation and Testing – Test and maintain safety switches across your workplace.
- Exit and Emergency Lighting – Six-monthly testing of emergency lighting systems.
- Smoke Alarm Compliance – Annual testing and maintenance of smoke alarm systems.
- Commercial Electrician – Full range of commercial electrical services for Melbourne businesses.
- Landlord Electrical Safety Check – Electrical safety checks for rental properties.
- Essential Safety Measures – ESM compliance for commercial and strata buildings.
Book a Test and Tag Session
Contact Carlin Co Electrical today to arrange test and tag for your workplace. We will provide a clear per-item quote and work efficiently through your equipment with minimal disruption to your team.